'A Headstone for Nick' becomes reality for Rockport family

By Dwight Collins | Sep 26, 2013

Photo by: Dwight CollinsA new headstone takes the place of a simple plaque for Nicholas Davis, who died at the age of 17 after many years battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Through donations and fundraising efforts, the local community helped raise the money needed to purchase the stone.

Rockport — The dream of a Rockport mother to honor her son with a proper grave marker has finally come true through the help and generosity of family and friends.

Priscilla Davis’ son Nicholas died at the age of 17 after battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy his entire life and now a headstone will honor the young man whose smile brightened the day of so many.

“My family and I want to thank each and every person who helped on the journey to get this perfect stone for our angel,” Davis said. “Each and every person that made this possible — our hearts have been blessed by so many, I could not possibly mention everyone.”

A fundraiser in May garnered about half of the estimated $5,000 need for the purchase of the stone. Through a website called rally.org and additional donations, the family raised the remaining funds needed. The material used for the headstone had to be shipped from Canada, so the price was slightly higher than the average cost, Davis said.

The shiny pink stone is engraved with Tigger and Piglet and a traditional goodbye Nicholas often said — “Kiss me on the forehead, give me a hug and I’ll do the same for you.”

Davis said she is grateful to many people who supported Nicholas, their family and the fundraisers.

“I will not name anyone by name in fear I would leave someone out,” she said. “They all know who they are and we are so grateful. The community really came together for our family and we thank you.”

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a degenerative muscle disease that is found in one out of every 3,600 boys with usual onset prior to the age of 6.